Career and Education Opportunities for Weighters in Boise, Idaho

Many educational and employment opportunities exist for weighters in the Boise, Idaho area. There are currently 160 working weighters in Idaho; this should shrink by 8% to about 150 working weighters in the state by 2016. This is better than the national trend for weighters, which sees this job pool shrinking by about 13.1% over the next eight years. Weighters generally weigh, measure, and check materials, supplies, and equipment for the purpose of keeping relevant records.

A person working as a weighter can expect to earn about $13 hourly or $27,660 annually on average in Idaho and about $12 hourly or $26,940 per year on average in the U.S. as a whole. Weighters earn less than people working in the category of Clerical generally in Idaho and less than people in the Clerical category nationally.

There is one school within twenty-five miles of Boise where you can study to be a weighter, among eleven schools of higher education total in the Boise area. Given that the most common education level for weighters is a high school diploma or GED, you can expect to spend only a short time studying to be a weighter if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Weighter

In general, weighters weigh, measure, and check materials, supplies, and equipment for the purpose of keeping relevant records. They also duties are primarily clerical by nature.

Every day, weighters are expected to be able to see details at a very fine level of focus. They need to evaluate problems as they arise. It is also important that they listen to and understand others in meetings.

It is important for weighters to inspect incoming loads of waste to pinpoint contents and to screen for the presence of specific regulated or hazardous wastes. They are often called upon to document quantity, quality, type, weight, test result data, and value of materials or products, so as to maintain shipping and production archives and files. They also maintain and clean work areas, such as recycling collection sites, drop boxes, counters and windows, and areas around scale houses. They are sometimes expected to count or estimate quantities of materials or products received or shipped. Somewhat less frequently, weighters are also expected to communicate with customers and vendors to exchange data regarding products and services.

Weighters sometimes are asked to store samples of finished products in labeled cartons and record their location. They also have to be able to fill orders for products and samples, following order tickets, and forward or mail items and inspect products and examination archives to establish the number of defects per worker and the reasons for examiners' rejections. And finally, they sometimes have to store samples of finished products in labeled cartons and record their location.

Like many other jobs, weighters must be reliable and be thorough and dependable.

Correspondence Clerk. Compose letters in reply to requests for merchandise, damage claims, credit and other information, delinquent accounts, or unsatisfactory services. Duties may include gathering data to formulate reply and typing correspondence.

Courtroom Clerk. Perform clerical duties in court of law; prepare docket of cases to be called; secure information for judges; and contact witnesses, attorneys, and litigants to obtain information for court.

File Clerk. File correspondence, cards, and other records in alphabetical or numerical order or according to the filing system used. Locate and remove material from file when requested.

Freight Representative. Expedite and route movement of incoming and outgoing cargo and freight shipments in airline, train, and trucking terminals, and shipping docks. Take orders from customers and arrange pickup of freight and cargo for delivery to loading platform. Prepare and examine bills of lading to determine shipping charges and tariffs.

Mail Clerk. Prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution. Use hand or mail handling machines to time stamp, open, and route incoming mail; and address, seal, and affix postage to outgoing mail or packages. Duties may also include keeping necessary records and completed forms.

Municipal Clerk. Draft agendas and bylaws for town or city council; record minutes of council meetings; answer official correspondence; keep fiscal records and accounts; and prepare reports on civic needs.

Office Clerk. Perform duties too varied and diverse to be classified in any specific office clerical occupation, requiring limited knowledge of office management systems and procedures. Clerical duties may be assigned in accordance with the office procedures of individual establishments and may include a combination of answering telephones, bookkeeping, typing or word processing, stenography, office machine operation, and filing.

Order Clerk. Receive and process incoming orders for materials, merchandise, or services such as repairs, installations, or rental of facilities. Duties include informing customers of receipt, prices, and delays; preparing contracts; and handling complaints.

Payroll Bookkeeper. Compile and post employee time and payroll data. May compute employees' time worked, production, and commission. May compute and post wages and deductions. May prepare paychecks.

Postal Clerk. Perform any combination of tasks in a post office, such as receive letters and parcels; sell postage and revenue stamps, postal cards, and stamped envelopes; fill out and sell money orders; place mail in pigeon holes of mail rack or in bags according to State, address, or other scheme; and examine mail for correct postage.

Procurement Clerk. Compile information and records to draw up purchase orders for procurement of materials and services.

Receptionist. Answer inquiries and obtain information for general public, customers, and other interested parties. Provide information regarding activities conducted at establishment; location of departments, offices, and employees within organization.

Shipping and Receiving Clerk. Verify and keep records on incoming and outgoing shipments. Prepare items for shipment. Duties include assembling, addressing, and shipping merchandise or material; receiving, unpacking, verifying and recording incoming merchandise or material; and arranging for the transportation of products.

Statistical Clerk. Compile and compute data according to statistical formulas for use in statistical studies. May perform actuarial computations and compile charts and graphs for use by actuaries. Includes actuarial clerks.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Weighter Training

Boise State University - Boise, ID

Boise State University, 1910 University Dr, Boise, ID 83725. Boise State University is a large university located in Boise, Idaho. It is a public school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 19,667 students and an admission rate of 81%. Boise State University has a one to two year program in General Office Occupations and Clerical Services which graduated three students in 2008.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Boise, Idaho

Boise, Idaho photo by Dmharris26

Boise is situated in Ada County, Idaho. It has a population of over 205,314, which has grown by 10.5% over the last ten years. The cost of living index in Boise, 90, is well below the national average. New single-family homes in Boise are priced at $245,800 on average, which is far greater than the state average. In 2008, one hundred eighty-three new homes were built in Boise, down from four hundred twenty-six the previous year.

The three most popular industries for women in Boise are health care, educational services, and accommodation and food services. For men, it is computer and electronic products, construction, and accommodation and food services. The average travel time to work is about 18 minutes. More than 33.6% of Boise residents have a bachelor's degree, which is higher than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 10.6%, is higher than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Boise is 9.2%, which is greater than Idaho's average of 8.3%.

The percentage of Boise residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 44.5%, is less than both the national and state average. The most common religious groups are the LDS (Mormon) Church, the Catholic Church and the United Methodist Church.